Chapter VI: Dangerous Paths

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

Avour dresses as well - with much laughter and giggling, but when they are ready to go, she looks again tired and exhausted. So Talia decides to go alone and tries to persuade Avour to stay.

She sits beside her and lays an arm around her back.

„Avour, take a rest now, we don‘t know, what the future will bring and when we will have the next opportunity to rest so comfortably again. I leave my sword with you, I don‘t think it is convenient ot have it with me, with this skirt, the knives will do in this peaceful town. But maybe you should touch it in my presence, with my hand on the hilt, you know, it is a bit peculiar when a foreigner tries to touch it.“

Talia takes her sword out of the shed and gives it to Avour who touches it only slightly, the sword seems to hum - in an agreeable way. Talia puts it back on the bed avour is sitting on.

„And maybe we should look for a safe place for these precious stones? You still have them with you, somewhere, do you? Well, no idea where to hide them. Oh, I got a weird idea, please give them to me, especially the green big one, keep some of the others...“

Talia vanishes in the other room, but is back soon.

„Ok, let‘s get some useful things and maybe I get half an hour of sleep as well before our meeting tonight! see you soon, Avour!“

Light hearted Talia leaves the inn to take a peaceful walk through the town and to buy some useful - and some luxury things.

***Astropic of the day***

Edited by: Talia Sturmwind  at: 12/18/03 17:34

[Terra Artemos]

The male elf huffed, as the female elf yelled, "We will not make deals with the likes of you!". The male elf tried to push past Terra, but she realized that the next place they would look was the inn. This indeed had to stop now. Events were unfolding as they squabbling, and it was obvious these black knights were not open to reason. Terra acted quickly grabbing his arm, using his forward momentum along with the strength and weight of her whole body, thrust the elf face first into a wall. As the elf fell seemingly unconscious, but only stunned, Terra turned in the same smooth movement drawing her Moonblade and bringing it up ready to strike now facing the female elf.

The female elf seeing Terra act against her partner, rushed Koldar, swinging her sword with skill. As Koldar fought back desperately, their skills seemed equal despite the elf superior experiance.

As Terra causiously approached the furious fight between the female elf and Koldar, the male elf stired and rose. Before Terra could react the elf blindsided her, slamming her full force into the opposite wall, causing Terra to drop her Moodblade, which fell harmlessly to the ground, the blade barely missing her foot. Before Terra could recover herself and fight back, the elf wrapped his arms around her, pinning her arms to her sides so she could not reach any of her other weapons. He was stronger than her, and dragged her a short distance away from the wall.

It was then Terra saw an opening were she may be able to turn the battle back to her favor. Terra lifted her legs planting both boots agianst the wall and shoved off with all the strenght she could gather. This forced the elf to stumble backwards, then topple over Terra still held powerfully in his arms. Both of them hit their heads hard aginst the wall of the building Terra had first thrust the elf into, with teh male elf taking the brunt of the fall. He was this time rendered unconscious, but Tarra was badly stunned, her head fuzzy, and could not keep her vision quite straight, and stubled seemingly drunkenly over to where her Moonblade lay on the ground bracing herself against the wall, trying to clear her head, but it only go more fuzzy, more unclear.

Admin Contact Info: Mortus Pryde/Terra Atremos

'I am grey. All but those like me see only darkness and light, they do not see the grey between them. In this greyness I dwell. I would not wish this fate on any other.'

[Koldar Mondrakken]

"Come on, this is not necessary." Koldar mutters disappointed but obviously the female elf is not open to reasoning. Evading a devastating blow Koldar dives away from the wall to prevent getting trapped in a corner.
"You  should work on your attitude, Kaiá. Just because I was sick of my life doesn't mean I suddenly work for ... " Koldar barely escaped the stroke aimed for his throat. "...some evil spirit or somethinggg...." again barely evading a thrust in his stomach he finds himself forced against the wall.

With nowhere to go he does not hesitates - in an exchange of swordsplay he would certainly lose!- , instead Koldar dodges the elf's next blow and uses her open defense to throw himself ontop of her very unchivalrous, it seems his participation in many bar brawls finally pays off and surprised by his sudden move the female elf loses her balance and Koldar lands on top of her.

Before he can really enjoy this little victory an armored knee hits his left ear and the elf  now rolls ontop. Her Shamshir aims hungrily at his head but somehow he evades this thrust  by nearly dislocating his neck. Koldar again answers with a rather crude right punch into her face and again manages to get ontop of things this time making sure she couldn't hit him again.

"Now... can ... we... please... play... nice." Koldar tries to suggest fighting her wild attempts to get out of this situation but she doesn't seem to listen. As a last resort he puts his sword at her throat his voice now recognizable strained. "Can... we... please... play... nice... now...?" but the elf now seems to get into real frenzy and Koldar has a hard time not to cut her by accident.

Suddenly she stops fighting and gets nearly calm her blue eyes facing Koldar nearly desperate. "Neánaía..." she whispers and closes her eyes. "What!?"

Koldar already fears that he might've harmed her without knowing it but then she opens her eyes again. They turnt jet-black! Shocked as black eyes are only known from darkelven tribes he nearly lost his grip on her but this time she didn't fight to free herself.

"Avásh Inaiá"

Her hard voice echoes through the backyrd, but before Koldar realizes the words something hit him like an iron hammer on the chest and throws him three peds through the air. He lands hard against the wall close to Terra. He nearly cuts his hand at her moonblade but when he looks up he sees the female elf obviously readying another magical strike. This accelerates Koldar's reflexes. Not waiting for any answers he grabs Terra's arm. "Time for a tactical retreat." and stumbles onto his feet. No time too soon as the brickwall besides him and Terra explodes under another Fist of Thunder. The female elf looks now like a demon herself in her black armor and black eyes sparkling crazed. Her red hair waves in her summoned winds like flames as she invokes another spell of her.

Losing no time he aims for the gap between the houses leading to the alley hoping that Terra will follow up as. Behind the next corner he crashlands behind some rubber gasping for air.

Koldar Mondrakken, Knight of the Moonlight

Edited by: Koldar Mondrakken at: 12/14/03 22:52

[Terra Artemos]

Terra's vision was beginning to blur when a form she could only vaguely comprehend as Koldar flew though the air and hit the wall near her. He then reached up and grabbed her arm, the insignificant weight of his hand almost dragging her down, then spoke before stumbling to his own feet. Terra could only nod numbly not fully understanding the words, then bent to pick up her Moonblade as the wall exploded, forcing Terra to brace herself on the ground with one hand as the other grasped the hilt.

Terra turned away from the female elf, and tried to make her escape, stumbling more erratically with every few steps. She was only vaguely aware of where Koldar had duct between the houses, and she did all she could to focus her wavering vision there. She had almost made it there when she tripped and stumbled violently steering her both into the narrow passage down which Koldar gone, but also out of the way of the female elf's magic. Terra made her way down the passage as quick as she could, using her free hand weakly to try to stabilize her. She could feel her head throbbing painfully, and her limbs becoming heavy, weak and near useless as she pressed on through what seemed and endless passage. Finally leaving the passage she leans up against the wall beside the passage unable to go any further. Within moments of bracing herself against the wall the pain in her head became intolerable, and the world began to go dark as her her Moonblade slide from her hand and clattered into the ally. She began to fall, sliding down the wall, a smear of blood left tracing the path of her head, and she was unconscious before she hit the ground.

Admin Contact Info: Mortus Pryde/Terra Atremos

'I am grey. All but those like me see only darkness and light, they do not see the grey between them. In this greyness I dwell. I would not wish this fate on any other.'

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

Chylikis is bigger than Talia had thought. The inn Koldar had guided them to seemd to be quite near the southern gate. In the direction to the north the town suddenly stretches far. After questioning some people where one could buy clothes and other things, Talia reaches finally the marketplace. It takes some time, till she can decide which clothes were fitting her - they are all so different of what she knows from the Shendar and has seen in Strata, but finally she comes out of a store with a pair of  leather trousers, linnen shirts, a waistcoat out of fine red  wool and a leatherjacket. In an additional packet are clothes and some nice things for Avour.

A new knife would be a good idea, one of her best she had lost on the ship. Talia goes onto the next smith, wishing that Koldar or Terra would assit her in dealing with the people here. Not far away is a smith who seems to have more than just two blades. Maybe if she asks for dwarven steel? Even with not yet having met a dwarf, Talia at least knows, that they have the best weapons available. with a friendly smile on her face, she enters the shop:

„Hello, I‘m looking for a dwarven blade, do you have one?“

The shopkeeper looks at her with a doubt in his eyes. He sees a woman with a dress in front of him asking for dwarven steel!

„Of course, milady, we have the best you can find, direct imported from Kor Donion or Kor Mithrid.“ I already sold a good dwarven sword today.2

„Really? Then show me please what you have, a dagger or good knive will do though.“

Should Koldar been here, she thinks. But no, the town is big enough to have more people looking for swords, but well, maybe?

The shopkeeper offers her a small variety of knives, Talia looks at them questioning.

„Can you show me the trademark please?“ she asks.

The shopkeeper looks at her angrily.

„You doubt, that they are dwarven? I don‘t have to sell them to you, one customer a day who doubts that I have quality works here is enough!“

„Oh, you did have problems today already with selling your dwarven blades? Well, I takes these two knives for one silverbard!“

The shopkeeper has to learn, that a well dressed lady is not an easy customer either and curses the day, when he bought the false dwarven knives.

Talia leaves the shop with a hidden smile. It looks as if Koldar has been here. It is not far from the inn. Maybe she would meet the two friends accidentically?

***Astropic of the day***
"For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path   that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly. ~Don Juan"

[Koldar Mondrakken]

Koldar just recovered enough to keep going but Terra was unusual slow. He looks worried back just to see Terra come stumbling around the corner before he could call her to hurry he sees her faint and drop unconscious leaving a blood stain at wall. Not waisting any time Koldar picks up her sword shoving it into his belt and pulls her by her arms around the next corner into a muddy backyard. Carefully he rests Terra sitting against a wooden fence and tries to listen for anyone following them.

After a few moment he can hear the voices of the elves obviously deciding where to go. "There... blood... one is hurt... they cannot be far..."

Koldar's hearts pumps faster as he hears heavy boots coming closer and he readies his sword pressing himself into the shadows of the corners. Suddenly the footsteps stop and Koldar holds his breathe. He can only hope that their elven ears were disturbed enough by the noise of the city but he can only wait. But Seyella is with him once again, a huge wagon full of wine barrels comes rumbling down the road.

Koldar takes this gained time and returns to Terra's side, this time lifting her onto his shoulders. Giving that Terra is bigger than him it must be a funny side but Koldar does not risk time getting caught in this kind of situation in broad daylight. He sees another exit from the backyard into another sidestreet and hurries into a small sidealley with many cellar doors and closed windows. Obviously the backside of those buildings.

Quickly choosing between two cellar doors who look rather unkept he opens one... and ends up in a dark, dirty cellar tavern. The bartender and the few customers who were still capable to lift their heads look curiously at this strange couple. With a pretended, friendly smile on his face Koldar makes his way around some tables to a secluded corner, all with Terra still on his shoulders of course.

As he passes a table where a dirty man with more hair in his ears than on  his scalp and foul teeth watched him with a smeary grin on his face. "Now friend, where did ya' get that gal, eh? Just found it on the street and thought to take it home, ya?" Not in the mood for jokes Koldar slaps the man on the back of his head and smashes his grinning face onto the table where it suddenly fell silent. seeing that the othercustomers and the bartender as well found suddenly other intersting things to stare at, like flies under the roof or some very interesting spots at the wall.

Without a word Koldar heads for the corner he had seen and quickly gets rid of the man that occupies it - who was in a condition where he didn't mind sleeping on the ground anyway. He lays Terra on the  bank carefully trying not to hit her head any more than it seems and feels for the wound. It seems only a light wound but with hits to the head you never know.

Trying to wake her Koldar cautious shakes her by the shoulders. "Hey, Terra? Are you still there?"

Koldar Mondrakken, Knight of the Moonlight

[Terra Artemos]

For a few minutes Terra lay lifeless on the bank, oblivious to the world around her, the stirred ever so slightly and groaned distantly in pain. But for a long moment lay still before Terra's eyes once again show signs of life, her body hurt all over, and pain still pounded in her head to the extent that it distorted her perception. Terra tried to turn her head slightly to look at the blurry familiar shape she could only assume was Koldar, but the attempt ended abruptly as pain shot through her body. Terra tried desperately to gather her thought to speak the the Haze that hung in her mind, after a few moments she put together the only words she could and spoke them,

"Where is my sword?"

Admin Contact Info: Mortus Pryde/Terra Atremos

'I am grey. All but those like me see only darkness and light, they do not see the grey between them. In this greyness I dwell. I would not wish this fate on any other.'

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

The city is definitely to big to find Koldar and Terra accidentcally. So Talia heads back to the tavern they are staying. When she enters the room, she sees Avour on her bed, sound asleep. But something is wrong, after a short time she notices, that there is a faint humming, a sound - and it comes from her belongings. The flute! She hurries to her things, dropping her new bought stuf and unpacks the instrument. Before she unwraps it, she hesitates. it was quite an unpleasant experience she had with it back in Strata - but it showed her , that Capher was in danger.
And now? Could be only Terra and Koldar. She cursed the two for bringing themselves so soon onto danger again, where she had hoped for a quiet evening, but then unwrapped the flute.

Nebulous pictures are flowing through her head - a flash of Terra lying on a bench, Koldar next to her, in a dark place.

Talia dropped the flute, which was now humming loudly.

Terra was seriously hurt! And the place wasn‘t a good one either, at least, that was the impression, the flute had given Talia. The flute had showed them the way to Capher back then. It would be working now as well.

so Talia quickly changed from her dress to the newbought clothes and added part of her armour, the tunica. Luckily it was so light and moveable, that it did not hinder. Grabbing her sword and putting it on the shed on her back she hurried out of the room, the flute wrapped in a cloth again, in her bag.

Hurrying out of the house, Talia runs into Hajarian.

„Sorry Sir, Koldar and Terra have managed to get into trouble again, hope we are back in time for the meal.“

Using the flute as a guide Talia quickly finds Koldar and Terra in one of the dirtiest holes she has ever seen. Both are in a corner , Terra still lying on that bench Talia has seen in the images the flute has shown her. As Talia approaches with a quick step, she comes just in time to hear Terra ask:

"Where is my sword?"

Despite the unpleasant situation, Talia has to smile: Barely able to lift her eyelids, the warrioress asks for her sword. Gently pushing Koldar aside, who looks not much better than Terra, though he is at least able to stand, Talia looks at Terras head and answers for him:

„Don‘t move, Terra, Koldar has your sword! Let have me a look at your head. Hmm, not bad, seems you have had a several blow on it. Please, allow me to put some southing plants on it and some bandages. and as soon as we are at home, you should stay for at least three days in bed not moving or sitting upright, otherwise you will keep a permanent headache from it.“

Waiting for a nod from Terra, Talia looks in the face of this strong woman, which has a special beauty though it looks fairly battered just now.

***Astropic of the day***
"For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path   that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly. ~Don Juan"

Edited by: Talia Sturmwind  at: 12/22/03 0:29

[Terra Artemos]

Not moments after she spoke another face entered her perception, it was a femillior feminine form. Details of her surroundings had become clearer, but she still could not make out who the form was, but somehow its pressence put her more at ease. When Talia spoke, it was no only the words but the sound of her voice that calmed Terra all the more. Terra responded to Talia after a moment to collect what thoughts she could grasp from the slowly lifting haze,

"That is good. ... I would not want to face those elves agian to get it back. ... Do what you need to do."

Terra looked around with her eyes, careful not to move any more than she could help, looking for another femilior form. That of a female elf she was sure she could spot easy by her unusual skin color. When her eyes could not find what they sought, she decided to ask Talia,

"Talia,... Where is Avour?"

Admin Contact Info: Mortus Pryde/Terra Atremos

'I am grey. All but those like me see only darkness and light, they do not see the grey between them. In this greyness I dwell. I would not wish this fate on any other.'

Edited by: Terra Artemos at: 12/23/03 7:34

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

„Avour is sound asleep on her bed, don‘t worry. Don‘t move, I will have a look at your head now.“

Talia carefully turns Terras head slighlty to see how the injury looks like. It is a bruise, the skin has snapped open, but not too much, a nice lumb is evolving. The wound has to be cleaned, but not here.Talia decides, to wrap just  some cloths around the head to stop the bleeding and to do the rest in the inn, where she has some herbs to accelerate the healing as well. This place is not one she wants to stay in longer. Just by being here you might catch an illness worse than Terras injury.

„Terra, I put now some bandages around your head, not more, in the inn I will clean your wound and give you some stuff that you can soon risk your neck again.“

Quickly she takes some clean cloths out of her emergency bag she always carries with her and wraps them around Terras head.

„Ok, now we have to bring you home, and though it would be better to transport you lying, I see no way to do it here. Koldar we have to take her between us. I see, you are not well either, but do you think you can manage? Terra is not exactly a lightweight.“

***Astropic of the day***
"For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path   that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly. ~Don Juan"

Edited by: Talia Sturmwind  at: 12/23/03 17:19

[Koldar Mondrakken]

Koldar's pose stiffens as someone else is entering this dungeon of the Doomed - or however you'd like to call this dirthole. He is relieved, yet also quite surprised to see Talia entering the tavern and coming straight to their place as if some magical signs were all pointing to them. Hopefully their other company can't see it, though. Talia shoves him aside as she sees Terra's ill condition but Koldar doesn't mind. he has enough other things in his mind.

Whatever these knights heard and whoever told them it, he obviously also affected their sanity. Normally elves were the last to start trouble that way and the female one could barely restrain herself. They were lucky, normally they should be already dead by now and never seeing it coming. The story of the knights seems incoherent, it makes no sense to him and even more so where did they get that info from? All question that needed answers.

Koldar is pulled out of his thoughts as Talia suggests to carry Terra between them. She seems worried about him but obviously not aware that its not his exhaustion but the new dangers they might have to face on their further journey.

...Koldar we have to take her between us. I see, you are not well either, but do you think you can manage?

With stern face he softly takes Talia's hand and shakes his head.

"No, I cannot come with you. I was about to leave Terra here when you came. This way it is better but we have a major problem. The Inn is not safe and someone has to insure our new friends won't get there before you do. They know Terra and me but probably won't remember you. With Terra in disguise you should be able to get to the Inn without confrontation. I'm sorry but I'm sure you both can do it.
I'll try to lead our attackers on a false track. Let's meet at the shrine of Armeros at the eastern plaza of Chylikis. In about an hour."

Koldar turns to the bartender of this establishment. "Hey, do you have a backdoor?" Obviously disturbed by this unusual high traffic of customers at this time in the morning the bartender points to a halfrotten door before he continues cleaning - or something like it - a mug. The door seems to lead to what is called the kitchen in here.

Koldar helps Talia with getting Terra on her feet. "Come on Terra you can do it."  And then takes up his sword sheath.
"You take the backdoor. I have to see that I find our friends. - Don't worry, I'll do the best I can." Giving Talia one of his childish smiles. "I'll run."
He winks at the two women and heads for the stairs.

Koldar Mondrakken, Knight of the Moonlight

[Terra Artemos]

Terra was barely conscious of Talia and Koldar's conversation. She could not quite understand it, and was not of a spirit to ask them to stop and clarify, but she could gather that Koldar was seeking to draw the Elf Knights from her. Then Koldar and Talia helped her to feet. Terra was clearly conscious of Koldar leaving her ever broadening perception, and called to him, her voice faltering some, but having a strength not akin to her current condition,

"Koldar. My sword."

It was her most cherished and prized possession. To her it defined her existence, though not in the literal sense that others saw in it. She never knew how, but it was her strongest bond to her past, a past still lost to her, and that she seeks. Terra refused to die without it, and even if mortally wounded or ill, she would pursue it till her last breath passed from her body. Terra would only die in peace with the Moonblade in her possession.

Admin Contact Info: Mortus Pryde/Terra Atremos

'I am grey. All but those like me see only darkness and light, they do not see the grey between them. In this greyness I dwell. I would not wish this fate on any other.'

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

„ I don‘t see, how you could hold up a dog which is attacking you!“ Talia replies to Koldar. „Not to think of „your friends“. Was it the black Lady we met in front of the gates? Oh darn, Koldar, why didn‘t you tell us some stories of your past earlier! The inn not safe? I don‘t believe it, until I see it.“
Talia sighs.
„OK, let me bring Terra home and mend her head a bit, I will meet you at Armeros shrine, maybe I can invite haj to help us. Why Armeros shrine btw?“


OCC: We need Terras sword, Koldar! Terra, I thought about bringing you to a shrine of Nehtor which will come into sight while bringing you home - there you might be safer  

***Astropic of the day***
"For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path   that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly. ~Don Juan"

[Koldar Mondrakken]

„ ...Not to think of „your friends“. Was it the black Lady we met in front of the gates? Oh darn, Koldar, why didn‘t you tell us some stories of your past earlier!...“

"Because it was none of your business!" Koldar answers irritated, but as soon as he's said that he bites his teeth in regret.

"I'm sorry, maybe later, but now is not the right time. Terra here's your sword." Koldar hands the still weak Terra her sword.
"These friends shun the public and couldn't explain their agenda in a court of Justice. They will hesitate to act under the noses of the Order of Armeros. They avoid direct confrontations there, at least for some time."

Koldar turns around and leaves quickly. Back in the alley he quickly hurries back to from where he and Terra came hoping to find the two knights still looking for him and Terra.

Koldar Mondrakken, Knight of the Moonlight

[Terra Artemos]

Terra takes up her sword, a wild, unrestful look in her eyes subsiding, and so too the unnatural stength, as meager as it was in her condition, that seemed to course through her at the possiblity of the loss of her charished blade. Slowly, weakly she lines up the blade, and slides it back in place at her hip. Now ready to move on with Talia. As Koldar was leaving Terra spoke after him, her voice weak, but showing signs that Terra herself was recovering slowly,

"Don't get yourself killed. I can not come to your rescue this time."

Terra leaned heavily on Talia, raising a hand to her throbbing head, and speaking wearily,

"I think we should go. I... I am not sure how long my strenght will last."

Admin Contact Info: Mortus Pryde/Terra Atremos

'I am grey. All but those like me see only darkness and light, they do not see the grey between them. In this greyness I dwell. I would not wish this fate on any other.'

Edited by: Terra Artemos at: 12/30/03 6:00

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